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Beetroot Has Incredible Power: It Can Treat These 12 Ailments
by Linda Parker November 14, 2024 – Updated May 16, 2025 in Health & Living
Often praised for its deep red color and earthy sweetness, beetroot is more than just a salad ingredient.
This humble root vegetable is packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and plant compounds that offer amazing health benefits.
From lowering blood pressure to supporting liver detoxification, beetroot is used in both traditional remedies and modern dietary strategies to combat a variety of health issues.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the 12 illnesses and conditions that can be treated or alleviated with beetroot, the science behind its healing properties, and how you can incorporate it into your daily routine for maximum benefit.
Beetroot Nutritional Profile
Before we delve into its disease-fighting properties, let’s look at what makes beetroot so special from a nutritional perspective.
Key nutrients per 100g (raw):
Calories: 43 kcal
Carbohydrates: 9.6 g
Fiber: 2.8 g
Folic acid (vitamin B9): 20% of the recommended daily intake
Vitamin C: 8% of the recommended daily intake
Manganese: 16% of the recommended daily intake
Potassium: 9% of the recommended daily intake
Iron, magnesium, and phosphorus in smaller amounts
Beetroot is particularly rich in nitrates, betalains, and polyphenols—bioactive compounds with medicinal properties that underpin many of its health benefits.
1. Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Beetroot is one of the most researched natural remedies for treating high blood pressure.
How it works:
Beetroot is rich in dietary nitrates, which are converted into nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide relaxes and dilates blood vessels, improving circulation and lowering blood pressure.
Evidence:
A study published in Hypertension showed that drinking beetroot juice significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure within a few hours.
Uses:
Drink 1 cup of fresh beetroot juice daily.
Roast or steam beets and add them to salads.
2. Dementia and Cognitive Decline
As we age, blood flow to the brain naturally declines. Beets may help reverse this trend.
How it helps:
Nitric oxide, produced from the nitrates in beta-carotene, increases blood flow to the brain, particularly in the frontal lobe, which is responsible for decision-making and memory.
Scientific Evidence:
A Wake Forest University study found that older adults who drank beetroot juice before exercising had significantly improved brain function and oxygenation.
3. Heart Disease
Beets play an important role in protecting heart health through several mechanisms.
Main Benefits:
Lowers blood pressure,
improves cholesterol levels,
reduces arterial stiffness,
reduces inflammation.
Beets also contain folic acid, which helps regulate homocysteine, a compound that, in high concentrations, can damage blood vessels.
4. Inflammation-related diseases (arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome)
Chronic inflammation is the root cause of many diseases, including arthritis and inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS).
Why beets work:
Beets contain betalains, a type of antioxidant with potent anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds inhibit pro-inflammatory enzymes such as COX-2.
Observed Benefits:
Reduces joint pain and stiffness
Soothes inflamed digestive tracts
May be helpful in ulcerative colitis
5. Cancer Prevention and Support
Beetroot contains anti-cancer compounds, including betalains, betanin, and ferulic acid, which may help prevent or slow the growth of certain cancers.
Cancer types studied:
Colon
Breast
Prostate
Lung
Mechanism:
These compounds act as free radical scavengers, antimutagenic agents, and detoxifiers. Animal and in vitro studies suggest that beetroot extract may reduce tumor formation and growth.
Note: Beetroot should complement, not replace, medical cancer treatment.
6. Indigestion and Constipation
Thanks to its high fiber content, beetroot promotes regularity and supports intestinal health.
How it works:
Adds more bulk to stool
Nourishes healthy gut bacteria
Eases bowel movements
It is a natural remedy for constipation, bloating, and even sluggish digestion.
